Health - WCCB Charlotte

Army: 98% Of Active Duty Got COVID-19 Vaccine By Deadline

The Army says 98% of its active duty force had gotten at least one dose of the mandatory coronavirus vaccine as of this week’s deadline for the shots.

North Carolina Extends Pandemic Food Assistance Benefits For K-12 Students

Health officials say eligible K-12 students in North Carolina will continue to receive food assistance through the 2021-22 school year thanks to an extension of the P-EBT food assistance program.

Iredell-Statesville Schools Reimplement Mask Mandate Beginning January 5th

Masks will again be required in Iredell-Statesville Schools beginning January 5th, according to the school board.

North Carolina Health Officials Cite First Flu-Related Death

North Carolina health officials are reporting the first flu-related death of the season as the state continues to deal with COVID-19.

Pfizer Confirms COVID Pill's Results, Potency Versus Omicron

Pfizer says that its experimental COVID-19 pill appears effective against the omicron variant.

Omicron Variant Now In Mecklenburg County

The first case of the highly transmissible covid omicron variant is now in North Carolina. Mecklenburg County Health Officials say it's a UNC Charlotte student.

U.S. Expands Pfizer COVID Boosters, Opens Extra Dose To Age 16

The U.S. is expanding COVID-19 boosters, opening a third dose of Pfizer's vaccine to people as young as age 16.

Re-Imagine Charlotte Gala Raises More Than $140K For Cancer Research

The American Cancer Society raised more than $140,000 for cancer research at its annual gala, Re-Imagine Charlotte, this 2021.

UNC Charlotte Sequencing Lab Searching For Omicron Covid Variant In Mecklenburg County

Charlotte area doctors and scientists at UNC Charlotte are increasing their workload to detect the new Omicron Covid variant.

Asheville Nonprofit Releases Punk Holiday Album Benefitting Overdose Prevention Efforts

Asheville nonprofit Musicians for Overdose Prevention and Holy Crap Records will drop a new, punk holiday album on Friday with all proceeds going to overdose prevention efforts.

U.S. Case Of COVID-19 Omicron Variant Identified In California

A person in California has become the first in the U.S. to have an identified case of the omicron variant of COVID-19. Dr. Anthony Fauci said the person was a traveler who returned from South Africa on Nov. 22 and tested positive on Nov. 29.

Dr. Mandy Cohen To Step Down As NC DHHS Secretary

Governor Roy Cooper announced Tuesday morning that North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy K. Cohen will be stepping down from the agency.

WHO Warns That New Virus Variant Poses 'Very High' Risk

The World Health Organization says the global risk from the omicron variant of the coronavirus is “very high” based on early evidence, and it could lead to surges with “severe consequences.”

Explainer: What We Know And Don't Know On New COVID Variant

On Friday, the WHO designated a new COVID-19 variant as a “variant of concern,” naming it “omicron” after a letter in the Greek alphabet.

Supreme Court Set To Take Up All-Or-Nothing Abortion Fight

Both sides are telling the Supreme Court there’s no middle ground in Wednesday’s showdown over abortion. The justices can either reaffirm the constitutional right to an abortion or wipe it away altogether.

Tips To Combat Seasonal Depression This Winter

As the days become shorter and the weather gets colder, a startling 5 percent of the U.S. population will begin to struggle with something known as seasonal depression or Seasonal Affective Disorder, according to the AMA. WCCB is here to tell you what this means and what you can do about it.